[john57]

  There is something wrong: the price is increasing (from 1500€ to 1750€) but the case, the RCA connectors, the folded metal sheet seems to me "cheap" like a chinese set-top box...
 
A Mytek, Yulong, Matrix or Schiit DAC, looks better. 

 

You saw the prototype. The final version may have better case work. You may have to wait until the final production version is shown before passing final judgement on the case.

 

[Esprit]

A very well done chassis...
 

 
[...]The first thing I noticed was the size and build quality of the unit which is quite small and it can fit in my palm, but it is made of solid and thick aluminum. [...](cit.)
P.S. Only 499,00€ 

 

[Esprit]

  You saw the prototype. The final version may have better case work. You may have to wait until the final production version is shown before passing final judgement on the case.

I'm judging what others show to me...

 

[ClieOS]

  A Mytek, Yulong, Matrix or Schiit DAC, looks better. 

 

 
If look is really that important, you already know what you should be buying then

 

[rickyleelee]

 
A Mytek, Yulong, Matrix or Schiit DAC, looks better. 

 

 
Casework is a matter of taste and I do wonder if the IDSd pro will also have the ge 5760 bulbs and switch between solid state. Schit is folded metal afaik and so is Mytek. So pretty the same to me.

 

[technobear]

Rear

Are the RCA's and XLR contacts rhodium over gold?

 

[earfonia]

  First the bad news. There will be no leak of the iDSD Pro today.

 
And now for the good news. We have the iCAN Pro instead.

 
 
 
 
 

Pro series - Beta Product Specifications

iCan Pro

 

 

 
Very nice symmetrical front layout! 

 

 

[EVOLVIST]

[COLOR=373E4D]Casework is a matter of taste and I do wonder if the IDSd pro will also have the ge 5760 bulbs and switch between solid state. Schit is folded metal afaik and so is Mytek. So pretty the same to me.[/COLOR]

Switchable from tubes to solid state would be too good to be true for the iDSD Pro. I know the flagship DAC in the AMR line has tubes, but I'm pretty sure they are not switchable. I mean, it's not beyond reason, but it appears as if they combined two models for a reason with the iCAN Pro.

 

[earfonia]

 

Thank Native DSD Music it's Easter weekend. (ok, no iDSD Pro but...)

 

Head-Fi readers can download a variety of FREE DSD Tracks at NativeDSD.com.

 
 

 
Our friends at Native DSD have also made a 20% discount on a Jazz compilation and a Classical compilation.
 

 
 
The coupon code is NativeDSD - valid through May 1st.
 
Each album ends up costing about €6,50EUR / $7,00USD.
 
NativeDSD downloads are available worldwide and currently has customers with accounts from 99 different countries.
 
Happy Easter message from iFi and NativeDSD (and Floor at Native DSD also said to go easy on the Easter Eggs)

 

 
Thanks a lot for this!
 
Happy Easter!

 

[iFi audio]

Beta firmware - Testing Solutions to Spotify/Tidal streaming on Android and DSD256 on MAC
 
 
Warning. 

Please try this only if you are comfortable with upgrading the firmware on your nano iDSD/micro iDSD/Retro Stereo 50 Beta firmware allows one to:
 
 
 
1) Version 4.8 Beta - Output audio for Android if you encounter lack of compatibility with Device X and Spotify/Tidal* etc., USB Host mode remains required. 
 

1. Devices tested so far Sony Xperia Z Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S4, allows system audio, including Games and Android Music Playback via iFi iDSD etc.
2. We have developed a Firmware workaround that enables this for several Android Phones in our possession, but need wider testing.

 
 
 
2) Version 4.8.4 - DSD256 via DoP for iDSD nano (and upcoming iDAC2 micro) is now supported, using a special beta firmware. This firmware is redundant on iDSD micro and Retro Stereo 50.
 

1. This is primarily for Mac, for Windows ASIO Native remains recommended.
2. Note that this Firmware unlocks 705k/768kHz sample rates on the iDSD nano and iDAC2 micro with hardware that mutes on 705/768k PCM. 
3. As Mac's default the audio to the highest rate this means there will be no audio until you lower the sample rate in the control panel to 384khz.

 
 

1. Note that on Windows either Firmware update requires the Version 2.23 iFi Driver, earlier versions are NOT supported.

 
 
Please open a support ticket here to receive this firmware
 
http://support.ifi-audio.com/
 
Or open a ticket and contact your iCLUB conciege
 
Thanks

 

[Franatic]

Hi ifi,
 
I am hoping we will soon get a peek at the unit with front and back panel shots. It would be great to know inputs, outputs and operating specs.
 
Surely those things must be a done deal by now.......thanks

 

[kurb1980]

Thank you iFI for the Mac support although HQplayer supports the iDSD micro DoP up to DSD256.  I hope that the official firmware release will address the USB issues of it loosing is lock intermittently and have to unplug USB and reconnect to resolve the issue.  Miska the developer of HQplayer has had the same issue as well and I'm sure I'm not the only one who have issue with the USB?

 

[iFi audio]

  Thank you iFI for the Mac support although HQplayer supports the iDSD micro DoP up to DSD256.  I hope that the official firmware release will address the USB issues of it loosing is lock intermittently and have to unplug USB and reconnect to resolve the issue.  Miska the developer of HQplayer has had the same issue as well and I'm sure I'm not the only one who have issue with the USB?

 
Please open a support ticket.
 
http://support.ifi-audio.com/
 
We have very few reports of this. We have not been able to replicate this problem on our test systems at this point in time.
 
So far all reports appear to come from users of one specific (and obscure) playback software on a specific OS. 
 
There is not enough data at this point in time to point fingers anywhere, be it hardware, firmware, OS or playback software, except to state that for most people on most OS and Playback software this problem does not seem to exist and that the firmware in our testing is extremely stable and resillient, including running non-stop for very extended periods of time. 
 
So if you do have this issue, please help us to help you and others with this problem to identify the source, by letting us have your setup details (precise revisions etc. of all relevant software), background as to under what circumstances this happens, how to provoke the problem explicitly (if possible), etc. to help us to get to the bottom of this. 

 
Thanks!

 

[Esprit]

Make ASIO driver for Mac
 
[…]Most Mac users will be completely satisfied with the performance and ease of use of the new exaSound Core Audio DoP256 driver. For enthusiasts interested in pushing the technology even further, exaSound announces a new ASIO driver technology for OS X. We are working with leading player developers to enable ASIO support in their programs. Documentation and sample code is available to interested third parties. […]
http://www.exasound.com/Blog/tabid/74/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/139/DSD-256-Available-on-Mac-for-the-First-Time.a
 

 

[Esprit]

If look is really that important, you already know what you should be buying then

I already own the Mytek and the Yulong DACs and I like and am very interested in this iFi...
No appearance or aesthetics but if the iFi must be a "pro" product and if it costs more than the other then it is also important that it will be solid, heavy and sturdy...
The chassis is also very important as far as concern EMI/RFI problems while the connectors must be resistant as a product "pro" is not necessarily screwed to the table (you can use it in different situations and places).
P.S. I do not care about aesthetics: I own only pro products including "ugly" pro monitors (but they sound good …)